Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-27
THE PROCLAMATION.
speeches BY Sir George Trsvsiyan and
others Ar. Gladstons's Resolution
Moving the Address Defeated.
lBy Aneio-AmerIcan cable 70 tho DIspatch.l

LONDON, August 26.-In the House
OF Commons to-day Sir George Ire
velyaD, one OF the late Gladstoneite
recruits, resumed the debate on Mr..
Gladstone's motion for an address to
the Queen, praying for the notification
of the Gowrnment's proclaiming of
the Irish National League. He said
the late Government did not ask the
House OF Commons to pass their Irish
crimes bill on hearsay, but that they
based their demands on parliamentary
returns OF grave outrages. There had
been committed 7,7SS outrages during
the previous year, and twenEy.six
sgrarian and political murders during
tie first half of the year. Sir George
contended that the House should have
tabulated statistics of crime IN Ireland,
and to mention one crime here and
another crime there was not sufficient
to justify such action as the Govern
mcnt were now taking against the
whole Irish people. He denied that the
general operation Of the National Irish
League increased crime in Ireland or
led to the general non-payment OF rent.
The league existed everywhere in Ire
land, and everywhere agrarian crime
was infinitessimal. Where landlord
in ireland made reductions like those
made by landlords in Great Britain they
got their rents as easy as the English
landlords. When the speaker went to
Ireland as Chief Secretary under the
late Government it was with the reso-
luton to wage war against crime, and
against that only, and he maintained
that policy on the whole. "Let the
House understand" he continued,
"tbat if the proclamation of the
league is sanctioned every Irishman
belonging to the league who will not
leave it at the command of the Govern
ment will be liable to be punished as a
common criminal, and that liability will
not depend on any judicial proceedings
worthy Of the name"
IN conclusion, he complained tnat the
statements made by Mr.. Balfour, Chief
Secretary for Ireland, and only given
out last night, left no time for the ex-
animation OF their character.
Mr.. Balfour had presented a series Of
alleged facts in Justification of the Gov
ernment's action. These allegations
the House should have chance to cor
roborate or refute before coming to
decision.
Sir X. L. Webster, Acknowledgement,
held that the reason why there were
not more convictions of crime in Ire
land, was simply because of terror of
the league. He reminded the House
that Earl Spencer's Government had
repeatedly proclaimed land-league
meetings, and that Sir Trevelyan had
supported these prociamations on the
ground that the objects of the Land
League were to put down landlorlism
and to effect q separation between Ire
lind and England.
The objects of the existing league,
said the speaker, were the same. Its
AIMS had not been changed. Abundant
evidence had already been adduced as
to the evil workings of the league.
Tie Government would now try the
experiment whether the suppression OF
league meetings would not lessen in
Limitations. Irish cheers They
were told this would be the death
struggle. Well either the league or
the Government. would go down. Irish
cheers He did not fear for the re-
suit. The Government would be sup.
ported by the consciousness that they
had done their duty.
Mr.. Harrington (NationalisD said
that as one largely responsible for the
league he desired to reply to calum-
MES that had been hurled at its cha
racter. He read letters from branches
of the league condemning the practices
which the Government declared the
league promoted. The league repu-
dated every form of outrage. The
league would go on doing what it had
done in spite of the proclamation, which
bad no terrors for the Irish people.
Cheers
Mr.. Mccartney declared that large
majority of the people were heartily
sick of the leagues policy. He said
that the proclamation was necessary
because the league would not obtain
its primary object by constitutional
means.
MIR. William Redmond accused the
Orange Society OF worse intimidation
than was ever charged to the league.
which was genuine national associa-
ton. Under certain circumstances he
said boycotting was iustifiable and
necessary. [Cheers from the ministe-
rial benches
Lord Harrington said he did not
think the speech of Mr.. Redmond
would influence the House in favor OF
the constitutional and legitimate cha
racter of the league. He doubted
whether if Sir George o. Trevelyan's
views upon the crimes act had been
known in Brideeton he would have got
the support of the Irish electors.
laughter. Sir George did not dwell
on the object or the tyranny OF the
league or the ruin and loss it caused,
nor did he enter upon the question
whether Lord Salisbury and Earl Spen-
Ger were justified in the policies they
adopted. The question for the present
discussion was whether the previous
policy which had been so successful
should be followed by the present Gov
eminent if the tyranny OF the league
became more rampant or more organ
lied now. As far as the action of an
association was wholly political it could
not be condemned, but If the action OF
an association destroyed the liberty OF
the people or subverted good govern
ment it did not matter what the sup
posed motives of the association were.
1t was enough that its action was hos
tile to social order. [Cheers. The
House had already decided that
intimidation prevailed preventing per-
sons from pursuing their lawful
occupations. 1t was not the duty
of the Government to lay before
Parliament the information desired
by the opposition. The crimes act was
row part OF the law. Action was taken
by the Government as executive. 1t
was not necessary to produce evidence
in support of executive acts. He con-
tradicted the reports that he had disa-
greed with the Government upon the
step proposed. He believed that the
leagues aim was spoilation and inius-
tice, and that its methods were in def
ance OF the law. [Cheers].
Continuing, Lord Harrington said
that be had some doubtas to the course
adopted. He should have preferred,
e q. Ii loo, ,,oec,lIo fbof tho Gov-